DELIVERIES of vital medical products have been given special powers to beat jams caused by roadworks.

A four-mile diversion caused by the closure of part of Colchester’s busy Northern Approach Road delayed the delivery of blood to Colchester General Hospital.

Now, after talks between hospital bosses, local councillors and County Hall officials, a deal has been done that allows deliveries to use the bus lane on Nayland Road.

Essex County Council has shut the Northern Approach Road for six weeks and traffic is being diverted from Boxted and Great Horkesley via Mill Road during this time.

Mile End ward councillor Dominic Graham said: “Unfortunately there has been a direct impact on the hospital’s deliveries, with blood and other essential medical products being delayed.

“The hospital raised the issue with Essex County Council and requested special dispensation to use a bus lane on Nayland Road to shorten the diversion route and solve the problem.

“This was ignored, forcing the hospital to employ taxis, which are allowed to use bus lanes, to make the deliveries at the taxpayer’s expense.

“When myself and councillors Anne Turrell and Martin Goss became aware of the situation, we were able to broker talks between the hospital and Essex County Council to resolve the situation.

“The hospital is now able to use the Nayland Road bus lane as long as their deliveries are made in eightseater vehicles.”

Nick Chatten, special projects director at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Essex County Council has acknowledged to us it failed to consult the trust before the diversion came into force on September 22.

“The diversion at first resulted in delays with transporting specimens to our pathology laboratories on the former Severalls Hospital site.

“On September 18, we’d asked for a dispensation to use the Nayland Road bus lane, but didn’t receive a response until seven days later which stated our inquiry had been forwarded to the appropriate team."